Seahawks: Sign Ken Lucas

Caption: Yes, there was a time when a single defender could actually defend Larry Fitzgerald.

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It has been reported that the Seattle Seahawks have hosted free agent CB Ken Lucas for a visit. Lucas is a former Seahawk who left before their Super Bowl season after the 2004 season for a $36 million contract.

He was a salary cap casualty of the Carolina Panthers this offseason.

The Seahawks currently have Pro Bowl CB Marcus Trufant. Besides that they have CB's Kelly Jennings, who in three seasons has only had one interception, and Josh Wilson, who is incredibly inconsistent, but showed brief flashes of being a playmaker.

Wilson had four INT's last season, but two came in a 13-3 defensive beat down of the playoff hopeful New York Bretts'

The Seahawks ranked dead last in pass defense in 2008, giving up 259.3 yards a game. While injuries plagued the secondary as well as the entire team, that is, and cannot be, the sole blame for a dismal season of coverage and tackling.

Lucas has plenty left to offer and could pick up right where he left off starting opposite of Marcus Trufant. That would allow the Seahawks to slide Wilson and Jennings' to the nickel and dime slots, it's a toss up between those two and those two spots.

Lucas has also visited the Chicago Bears, whom he met with before his trip to Seattle, but said a contract was not even brought up: "To be honest, we never spoke contract at all, it was me really just coming to Chicago just to get a feel for the coaches, the personnel department. Contract was not even spoken or talked about."

The Bears also just recently gave up a bunch of assets by trading for whinging QB Jay Cutler, sending two first round picks, (2009, 2010), a third round pick, and starting QB Kyle Orton, while also receiving a fifth round pick. along with Cutler.

On an interesting side note, Orton has a record of 21-12 in games hes started, Cutler has a 17-20 record.

They also signed one of the other players who was present when Lucas was visiting, Pro Bowl T Orlando Pace, to a three year $15 million deal. That signing gives the Bears a good offensive line to block for their new franchise QB.

With what the Bears have given up, and the money put forward for Pace, it seems less likely the Bears will pursue Lucas anymore.

The Bears already have Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher; if Lucas was brought in, he would most likely have to fight for Vashers' spot.

If he went to Seattle, he would be a virtual lock for a starting CB spot. Wilson and Jennings are not at his level, and I think anyone could agree with that.

Lucas also has the familiarity factor in Seattle since he had previously played their. Seattle would also be able to offer more then the Bears could probably.

Signing Lucas would do what the T.J. Houshmandzadeh signing did with the WR's, eliminate the need to draft a CB in the early rounds. It would allow them to focus on what would be their one weak point remaining on defense: linebacker.

It would also allow them to draft a premier LT such as Jason Smith if they wanted, who could slide in the hole where Rob Sims resides until Walter Jones is used up.

The Bears acquisition of Cutler could also effect the Seahawks on draft day.

With the Broncos now needing a new franchise QB, they hold the 12th and 18th picks, and if Mathew Stafford fell past the Lions, the Seahawks could be a viable trading partner, especially if Cleveland, who hold the 5th pick, trades one of their two QB's as rumored.

Denver is rebuilding their defense and could use the pick on a defensive stud such as DT BJ Raji, who should be gone by the 10th pick, even with his failed drug test.

Signing Lucas, and filling the void at LB, and RG, and adding safety depth, would complete this team, meaning, there are no real weak spots. This is a key draft and taking care of CB just gives them more flexibility to stock up during Draft day.

Seattle, bring back a familiar face, sign Ken Lucas, it's the right move to make.